Captain Phillips

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Captain Phillips

PG-13,

2013,

2h 13m,

Drama/

Action/

Mystery & Thriller/

Crime/

Biography

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Watchlist

Watchlist

94%

280 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

280 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In April 2009, the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama sails toward its destination on a day that seems like any other. Suddenly, Somali pirates race toward the vessel, climb aboard and take everyone hostage. The captain of the ship, Richard Phillips, looks to protect his crew from the hostile invaders, and their leader, Muse. The pirates are after millions of dollars, and Phillips must use his wits to make sure everyone survives and returns home safely.

Critics Consensus

Smart, powerfully acted, and incredibly intense, Captain Phillips offers filmgoers a Hollywood biopic done right -- and offers Tom Hanks a showcase for yet another brilliant performance.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Sep 14, 2023

Hanks is the casting coup here, and anchors (forgive the pun) the film with the sense of a normal, modest everyman who is in over his head.

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J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

Feb 22, 2019

The Navy SEALS procedural is a bit of a jumble even as it comfortingly demonstrates American competence in the face of a standoff. Still, it's the captain's passion that gives the movie its emotional intensity.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Sep 5, 2018

My heart was in my mouth throughout. It is nail-bitingly exciting, even if you know the outcome, and I think I can safely say it's a better film than the one I thought I was going to see.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 15, 2026

A

As a thriller, it defines 'being on pins and needles'. As a showcase for Tom Hanks, it serves as a major highlight for his long and illustrious career.

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Carla Renata

The Curvy Film Critic

Mar 24, 2026

Tom Hanks gives a performance so riveting you felt like a fly on the wall watching this whole scenario play out. Barkhad Abdi and Barkhad Abdiraman break our hearts while leaving your veins as cold as ice-water simultaneously.

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Guillermo Troncoso

Screen Realm

Jan 24, 2026

4.5/5

Exhausting and thrilling, Captain Phillips earns its impact through sheer immediacy, placing you on the deck, in the hold, and inside the rising panic. Greengrass and his team deliver an intensely immersive experience.

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Han R

Mar 22, 2019

Though it's one of Tom Hank's best performances, Captain Phillips proves stories on the evening news don't always make for the most engaging of films especially when you already know the outcome.

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Rey L

Feb 2, 2019

This film is one hell of an intense piece of work. It's suspensful and tense to its core, and actually stays with you for a little while. But what makes the movie even more disturbing is that it's based on a true story, and this kind of stuff is still really happening in the world today. But apart from the captivating and nail-biting suspense, the best aspect of this film, without a doubt, is the killer lead performance by Tom Hanks, and even Barkhad Abdi gives a grizzled performance too. Overall, in terms of thrillers, this is one of the best and most efficient ones I've seen yet. Recommended!!

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Leia S

Jan 25, 2019

Outstanding movie with compelling performances and tense directing and writing throughout. One of the best thriller films of all time.

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Finn M

Jan 14, 2019

Captain Phillips is a 2013 film based on a true life story. Great acting from the dialogue delivery to when the characters are in pain or in fear. Really good setting that isolates the characters from the rest of the world. Really good set design with all the props and the little details spred throughout. Really good cinematography when the scene is intense the camera fits the scene by ether shaking the camera or elongating the shot for effect. Really good story based on a real story. Really good character that you feel for. You even feel for the antagonists even when they are doing something wrong. Really good action from guns to knifes to getting hit, and the film is extremely suspenseful and really intense. Over all I give it a 9/10 - so close

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George S

Dec 22, 2018

Way over-hyped. Good acting, but the plot was slooow with lots of holes. Like you're going through an area where Pirates are a well known threat, yet your crew doesn't carry any weapons??? Grade: C+

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Rey G

Dec 21, 2018

Película dramática muy bien planteada, sumamente atrapados y tensa, un deleite para ver, disfrutar y al mismo tiempo sufrir lo brutal de la historia contada

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Paul Greengrass

Director

Tom Hanks

Capt. Richard Phillips

Catherine Keener

Andrea Phillips

Barkhad Abdi

Muse

Barkhad Abdirahman

Bilal

Faysal Ahmed

Najee

Captain Phillips: Official Clip - Two in the Water

3:20

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Captain Phillips: Official Clip - I'm the Captain Now

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Captain Phillips: Official Clip - Too Much Talk

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Captain Phillips: Official Clip - Not Here to Negotiate

2:52

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Captain Phillips: Official Clip - Hit the Hoses

2:49

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Captain Phillips: Official Clip - You're Safe Now

2:59

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Captain Phillips: Official Clip - Kidnapped Captain

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Captain Phillips: Official Clip - Radio Ruse

2:31

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Captain Phillips: Official Clip - Pirates On Board

2:59

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Captain Phillips: Official Clip - We Have Your Captain

2:27

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Synopsis

In April 2009, the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama sails toward its destination on a day that seems like any other. Suddenly, Somali pirates race toward the vessel, climb aboard and take everyone hostage. The captain of the ship, Richard Phillips, looks to protect his crew from the hostile invaders, and their leader, Muse. The pirates are after millions of dollars, and Phillips must use his wits to make sure everyone survives and returns home safely.

Director: Paul Greengrass
Producer: Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca
Screenwriter: Billy Ray
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Scott Rudin Productions, Michael De Luca, Trigger Street Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Bloody Images|Substance Use|Sustained Int. Seq. of Menace)
Genre: Drama, Action, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 21, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $107.1M
Runtime: 2h 13m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat

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